Stackable product distribution device

ABSTRACT

Stackable product distribution device for accommodating at least one row of products with products which can be arranged in succession on a support surface in a receiving space which is bordered by two opposite side walls, one bottom, and a cover as well as at least one closable door, for sequential distribution of the product of the product row which is located nearest the door there being a removal opening between the closed door and one front edge of the cover.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a stackable product distribution device for accommodating at least one row of products with products which can be arranged in succession.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

To store a stock of products including product packaging and for presentation of the packages to customers, especially in self-service businesses, especially for expensive products, there are often at least largely closed product distribution devices by which on the one hand product presentation in a pleasing manner is to be possible, on the other hand however theft of large amounts is to be prevented. On the other hand, the restocking cycles will be reduced by a large number of products being able to be accommodated in the product distribution device.

In these at least largely closed product distribution devices there is simultaneously the problem that the removal of products is made difficult by for example the customer having to trigger security mechanisms such as for example a door or a slide for removal of a product. At the same time there is the problem of space-saving installation of the product distribution devices into existing shelf systems.

The object of this invention is therefore to provide a product distribution device whose handling, especially when products are being removed, is configured to be as simple as possible, but at the same time also secure, and which is made space-saving with a capacity to be integrated into existing shelf systems.

This object is achieved with the features of the claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims. All combinations of at least two of the features given in the specification, the claims and/or the figures also fall within the framework of the invention. For given value ranges values which lie within the indicated boundaries will be considered disclosed as boundary values and will be claimed in any combination.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention is based on the idea of making the product distribution device stackable, the product distribution device being largely closed, aside from a closable door and a removal opening which is accessible even with stacking of the product distribution device for sequential distribution of the product of each product row which is the frontmost product at the time. Products mean especially packaged products. Closed product distribution devices are designed and suitable especially for products with a high sale value and small outside dimensions, especially razor blades, printer inks for inkjet printers, etc. Because the product distribution device as claimed in the invention is made to be stackable, a plurality of product distribution devices can be accommodated on much less shelf volume.

By the door of the product distribution device being attached with a pivoting capacity to one front edge of the bottom, the filling of the product distribution device is easily enabled even for several product distribution devices which are stacked on top of one another.

It is especially advantageous if the door in the closed position is made to be lockable, especially by a lock. In this way the removal of a plurality of product packages in a short time can be made difficult or prevented.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the door in the closed position is angled forward by an angle W₁ greater than 5 degrees, especially greater than 10 degrees relative to an orthogonal line O₁ to the support surface of the product row. The angle W₁ is especially smaller than 90 degrees, preferably smaller than 45 degrees, By angling the door relative to the support surface several functions are performed, specifically especially simple accessibility of the removal opening and the possibility of a horizontal arrangement of the product distribution device on a shelf so that the product distribution devices can be arranged on standard shelves via corresponding shelf fixing means.

Here it is moreover advantageous if according to another advantageous embodiment of the invention the door in the closed position relative to an orthogonal line O₂ to the bottom is angled forward by an angle W₂ greater than 5 degrees, especially greater than 10 degrees, especially the angle W₁ being greater than W₂.

In a development of this invention it is provided according to one embodiment that the support surface which is provided especially with conveyance means for especially automatic conveyance of the products of the product row in one conveyance direction F in the direction of the door is made as a ramp with a ramp pitch R greater than 3 degrees, especially greater than 5 degrees in the conveyance direction F, especially relative to the bottom, especially W₁−W₂=R. In this way the products can be pushed in the direction of the door without tilting or upsetting in the product distribution device, and by the angling of the door in relation to the ramp the frontmost product can be tilted toward the door so that only the frontmost product is accessible via the removal opening and the other products of the row of products are not accessible.

Optimum stacking of the product distribution device is enabled by one stacking surface of the cover being made corresponding to one stacking surface of the bottom, especially having the same dimensions, the product distribution devices being made such that when stacking identical product distribution devices all removal openings remain accessible for removal of the products.

To the extent a length L_(D) of the cover essentially agrees with a length L_(B) of the bottom in the conveyance direction F, in the stacking of a plurality of product distribution devices a uniform and flush arrangement of the doors or front edges of the product distribution device is obtained. The length L_(D) and the length L_(B) are each defined by shelf fixing up to one front edge of the cover or of the bottom.

Advantageously, in another embodiment it is provided that the removal opening is made such that only one individual, specifically the product of the product row which is frontmost at the time can be removed, especially by tilting the frontmost product on one front end of the ramp toward the door. This measure easily enables reliable removal of the products.

Other advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and using the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the stackable product distribution device as claimed in the invention,

FIG. 2 a shows a front view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 2 b shows a plan view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 without a cover, and

FIG. 3 shows a cutaway side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The same components or components with the same function are identified with the same reference numbers in the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a stackable product distribution device 1 which, aside from a removal opening 9, is formed by a bottom 5, two side walls 4, 4′ which are arranged laterally opposite on the bottom, and a cover 6 which is located on the other end of the side walls 4, 4′ as well as doors 7, 7′, 7″ which are provided on one front side of the product distribution device 1 for opening and closing of a receiving space 8. On the back there can optionally be a rear wall, and by attaching the product distribution device 1 to a shelf by shelf fixing means 12 the receiving space 8 which is formed by the bottom 5, the side walls 4, 4′, the cover 6 and the doors 7, 7′, 7″ can be closed so that the shelf or a rear wall of the shelf or a wall on which the shelf is standing forms the rear wall of the product distribution device 1.

In the receiving space 8 there can be a plurality of products 3, 3′ in rows 2 of products, for each row 2 of products for conveyance of the products 3, 3′ in the direction of the respective door 7, 7′, 7″ there being conveyance means 13. The conveyance means 13 can be formed by a pusher 15 which is loaded with a spring 14. The pusher 15 is guided to be able to slide along a guide groove 16 which is provided in a support surface 11 for support of the products 3, 3′. To retard the conveyance of the products in the conveyance direction F, in an advantageous embodiment (not shown) there can be retarding means which are made to act against the spring force which is acting by the spring 14 on the pusher 15.

Several identical product distribution devices 1 can be stacked on top of one another, and the bottom 5 with its stacking surface 5 s which forms the entire lower surface of the bottom 5 can be stacked on a stacking surface 6 s of a cover 6 of another product distribution device 1. The stacking surfaces 5 s, 6 s, of each product distribution device 1 are arranged corresponding to one another and along one orthogonal line O₂ flush with one another. In particular, in the conveyance direction F lengths L_(D) of the cover 6 and L_(B) of the bottom 5 essentially agree, in any case aside from rounded edges. The cover 6 is reinforced by reinforcing elements 19, 19′ which run transversely to the conveyance direction so that the stability is ensured even when several product distribution devices are stacked. Advantageously the reinforcing elements 19, 19′ are located in the rear area of the receiving space since there is room here due to the oblique arrangement of the support surface 11.

In the mounted state of the product distribution device 1 on a shelf via the shelf fixing means 12 one front edge 5 v of the bottom 5 and one front edge 6 v of the cover 6 have an essentially identical distance to the shelf. The front edges 5 v, 6 v of several product distribution devices 1 which are stacked on top of one another thus form a common merchandise presentation surface, the door 7, 7′, 7″ in the closed state and the removal opening 9 which runs from the front edge 5 v to the doors 7, 7′, 7″ projecting from the merchandise presentation surface. Because the doors 7, 7′, 7″ run obliquely relative to the merchandise presentation surface from the removal opening 9 to the front edge 5 v of the bottom 5 on the one hand an aesthetically pleasing picture and simple accessibility in the grasping range of the customer for the removal of the frontmost product 3′ from each product row 2 and simple restocking of emptied product rows 2 by opening the corresponding closable door 7, 7′, 7″ are enabled. It is especially advantageous if the doors 7, 7′, 7″ are made at least partially transparent so that the products 3′ can be recognized through them at least in part, preferably in full.

The doors 7, 7′, 7″ are coupled on the front edge 6 v by a pivot bearing 17 on the bottom 5 for opening/closing.

In the closed state the doors are angled relative to an orthogonal line O₂ to the bottom 5 or the stack surface 5 s by an angle W₂ greater than 5 degrees, in the exemplary embodiment 15 degrees. The angle W₂ together with the height of the product distribution device is responsible for a width B of the removal opening 9. The greater the angle W₂ and/or the taller the product distribution device, the greater the width B of the removal opening 9.

When the frontmost product 3′ of one product row 2 is being removed via the removal opening 9 the entire product row 2 is pushed by the conveyance means 13 in the conveyance direction F. In this way the now frontmost product 3′ is pushed beyond the front end 11 e of the support surface 11 and tilted forward until the now frontmost product 3′ adjoins an L-shaped removal holder 18.

The L-shaped removal holder has a bottom surface 18 b which runs orthogonally to one removal direction E and one stop surface 18 a which is angled thereto and which runs especially parallel to the removal direction E, and the stop surface can alternatively be the doors 7, 7′, 7″.

The support surface 11 is provided as a ramp with a ramp pitch R greater than 3 degrees, here 8 degrees, in the conveyance direction F. This yields a more dramatic tilt angle of the frontmost product 3′ relative to the other products 3 of the product row 2 so that only the frontmost product 3′ can be removed through the removal opening 9. With reference to an orthogonal line O₁ to the support surface 11 the angle W₁ of the closed door 7, 7′, 7″ arises which is greater than the angle W₂, in this case by 23 degrees, therefore R+W₂. 

1. A stackable product distribution device for accommodating at least one row of products with products which can be arranged in succession on a support surface in a receiving space which is bordered by two opposite side walls, one bottom, and a cover as well as at least one closable door, for sequential distribution of the product of the product row which is located nearest the door there being a removal opening between the closed door and one front edge of the cover.
 2. The product distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door is pivotally attached on one front edge of the bottom.
 3. The product distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door is made to be lockable, especially by a lock.
 4. The product distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the door is angled forward by an angle W₁ greater than 5 degrees in the closed position relative to an orthogonal line O₁ to the support surface of the product row.
 5. The product distribution device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the door is angled forward by an angle W₂ greater than 5 degrees in the closed position relative to an orthogonal line O₂ to the bottom, especially the angle W₁ being greater than W₂.
 6. The product distribution device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the support surface which is provided especially with conveyance means for especially automatic conveyance of the products of the product row in one conveyance direction (F) in the direction of the door is made as a ramp with a ramp pitch (R) greater than 3 degrees in the conveyance direction (F), especially relative to the bottom, especially W₁−W₂=R.
 7. The product distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one stacking surface of the cover is made corresponding to one stacking surface of the bottom, especially have the same dimensions and the product distribution devices being made such that when stacking identical product distribution devices all removal openings remain accessible for removal of the products.
 8. The product distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a length L_(D) of the cover is essentially equal to a length L_(B) of the bottom in the conveyance direction.
 9. The product distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the removal opening is made such that only one individual, specifically the frontmost product of the product row can be removed, especially by tilting the frontmost product on the front end of the support surface, especially of the ramp, toward the door. 